Shaila's Blog for Digital Citizenship: Weekly Report & Reflection Blog Post #11

Wow, I can’t believe this course is coming to an end. I must say, it was a great reminder on the wealth of tools I already have in my PLE, not to mention some of the new ones I have added through my learning journey of this course.

Datoo, S. (cc2013)

Given the remarkable extent to which technology has transformed our lives, bringing a vast new world of information resources into our homes, classrooms, libraries, and offices, it seems clear that among the most essential ingredients of success today is the ability to learn, communicate, evaluate, and manage all forms of information. It is imperative for people to know how to absorb, analyze, integrate, create and effectively convey information—and who know how to use information to add meaning and real value.

This week we explored podcasts and screencasts, all of which are great for creatively sharing information. In the classroom, they can be used to create a series of tutorials to demonstrate complex concepts or reinforce learning. Text can be pretty boring, however, creating podcasts and screencasts are not only fun for the creator, but learners seem to be more engaged. One of the biggest advantages I find is that it allows for mobile learning. Students can view and listen to them on their mobile devices such as tablets, iPads, and their smartphones, which can lead to a productive bus or train ride home!

Digital literacy skills are a must and significantly important to work and learn in our information society today. The consequences of lacking skills in this domain could have potentially numerous negative implications, not just for individuals but for society as a whole. In the higher education context, students who lack digital literacy skills cannot benefit fully from learning opportunities either in the classroom or beyond. No matter what field one is studying, success depends on one’s ability to organize the information once it has been amassed, to assimilate it, and in the end, find meaning in it. Thus, for example, students who lack basic digital literacy skills are likely to be ineffective or inefficient in their attempts to conduct research using the Internet because they lack an understanding of effective search strategies; they may also have difficulty analyzing and interpreting the information they gather (e.g., judging the credibility of a source, or comparing various sources of information). Further, they may be unable to communicate their ideas effectively using technology, such as organizing data in a graph or composing their findings in a research paper with graphic enhancements and exhibits.

Many of the technologies we depend on today will soon become obsolete, and new ones will replace them. It is therefore imperative that we, as educators, help our students develop the skills that will allow them to reap the benefits of any technology as well as understand their responsibilities of being digital citizens.

I had a hard time adding the CC License to the header and footer, so I have included this below.